Industrial Relations and Manpower in Construction

Construction is one of the nation's most complex and important industries. In terms of employment, it is the largest single industry in the United States; yet there has been no reasonably comprehensive study of the labor market in construction since the 1920s. This work explores the sources of inflationary pressures in construction and the means of reducing them, attempting also to accurately reflect the enormous variety in this industry and in the relationships between contractors and their employees.

The book is divided into four sections: Collective Bargaining—which describes the inflation that developed in the late 1960s; Manpower Utilization—including seasonality, manpower planning, and problems of racial imbalance; Formal Training—particularly apprenticeship; and Problems of Public Policy—especially in regard to housing.

The study ends early in 1971, at the time of the imposition of wage controls in construction. The author's thorough inquiry into a matter of national significance should lead to a better understanding of the industry and perhaps to a more stable full-employment sector of our economy.